Modern Sports Cars...Useless?

[TehMac]

A fairly insightful piece on Americans and their love for sports cars. I disagree with what he says, but I found it an interesting and amusing article, so I wanted to share with AT.

Link

 

[chorb]

That article goes into a bit more than just sports cars being, its more about how all cars are too full of features/and large engines we can't/don't use, but I see the point of it all.

They only time I ever get to take my car WOT without worrying about the repercussions is freeway on ramps. 0-60 in under 5 seconds, rawr.

 

[Apex]

They're about as useless as owning your own house (apartment is enough for vast majority of people & situations), eating out (cheaper to cook at home), going on vacation (you can see pictures of places from your computer), fast computers (slow ones will still take you to the same places), or owning anything but utilitarian clothes.

 

[punjabiplaya]

I believe that's pretty much how most people feel and why track days are booming business. But this is also now trickling down into the consumer market - instead of huge V8s we get boosted/blown v6s and fours. I do occasionally join my right foot with the footwell, but since I spend so much damn money on gas, I just leave the trip computer/fuel economy page up and just try to eke out as much mileage as possible. 95% of people aren't automotive enthusiasts and just don't care - this includes people who buy "luxury" vehicles. Most of them just want something with style and presence, to let the rest of us know that we're not as lucky as them, but never have I seen someone in an m5 screaming down the highway. Yesterday, I saw an SL63 caked in fresh mud. Apparently the owner was parked in a mud pit and had a little trouble getting it out -lol. But yeah, that sentiment is pretty much what most people feel. Does the average person need a 400hp car just to go to the grocery store? what about a 5000 lb SUV? /shrug

 

[Tristicus]

All I just want to ask after reading this article is: "You mad, bro?"

 

[exdeath]

I use my large engine every chance I get. You don't have to speed to get to 45 in 2 seconds before the next guy even crosses the intersection

This guy is an idiot anyway. Horsepower has nothing to do with how fast you cruise. It's how fast you GET there, so he does have a point when people take off in a 400 HP car and they are still even with a minivan.

And as long as we are talking about need, as an organism we don't really need ANYTHING that isn't food, a hole in the wall to stay out of the rain, and to reproduce.

 

[obamanation]

The problem is you've got people who know they're buying more than they need but they desperately want to maintain the status symbol of what they have. The only way to solve this problem is putting a minimum fuel economy requirement/raising the CAFE standards.. It's not about that Porsche with 500HP, it's about how that Porsche Compares with that BMW or that Lexus, and how it's not a "crappy economy car". Most people would be happy to have the "best vehicle" but gets 50mpg just as much as the "best vehicle" that gets 12mpg. But in a world where you have 50mpg vehicles and 8mpg vehicles, the 8mpg vehicles are still going to be considered "the best" and until that changes, transitioning to higher MPG vehicles is going to be difficult. People are always for higher efficiency, but if there is a "risk" that it'll lower their status in society, then they want nothing to do with it. People want bragging rights, something that is hard to do when you voluntarily choose a vehicle that is "more inferior" to another vehicle.

One solution to this 0-60 nonsense is to stick with the idea of high fuel economy vehicles but have a rear differential and or in-wheel electric motors for the rear wheels that are paired up with an ultra capacitor. This would provide the ability to burn rubber and get up to 60mph in a short amount of time without having to make a vehicle that wastes fuel since the power needed would be in a short burst. The real need for a true high performance powertrain would be for a racing application where a lot of the time you're driving at WOT oppose to real life situations where we're cruising.

 

[KIAman]

I drive my car WOT all the time, up to when I hit the speed limit, which is typically anywhere from 2-6 seconds depending on limit.

I do understand his point but I disagree on the whys. It wasn't just PR flacks that created the need. It was a marketing tool to make money. Just like when GPUs advertise HorseRadish 3D UNGAME engine, or Super D9DD93DXDXX Acceleration, or 1789bit wide electron BUS!!!! The features are there, nobody cares, but makes people buy them.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

the article pretty much states the obvious, imo. although i'll disagree with this:

Remember the three-cylinder Geo Metro? That was an economy car. It got better gas mileage (50-plus MPGs) than a 2010 Prius -- and it cost half as much.

although cheap (and still over-priced), the korean badge-job never delivered 50 mpg. my friend had the manual trans 3 door and we took that thing all over the place. the car was at it's worst in the mountains of vermont. i don't think it got 50 mpg down a mountain.

 

[PricklyPete]

i don't think it got 50 mpg down a mountain.

I didn't realize it was capable of going up mountains to begin with! :awe:

 

[The Boston Dangler]

I didn't realize it was capable of going up mountains to begin with! :awe:

seriously, that shitbox was at it's limit. we had serious doubts.

 

[exar333]

Let's all feel guilty about actually enjoying our cars (I enjoy both my cars immensely) and cram ourselves into econoboxes and listen to granola-rock as we cruise in our bio-diesel cars.

These kind of articles make angry. Why don't we get our own autobahn in the US and we can drive our nice cars 150mph? How about we start with I-80? Why shouldn't i drive 150mph when all I see are cornfields?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Why don't we get our own autobahn in the US and we can drive our nice cars 150mph? How about I80? Why shouldn't i drive 150mph when all I see are cornfields?

no road in america supports travel at 150 mph. the reason the autobahn does is because it's really fucking expensive.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

All I just want to ask after reading this article is: "You mad, bro?"

Sounds like someone got denied on a loan for that M56 and is bitter.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

no road in america supports travel at 150 mph. the reason the autobahn does is because it's really fucking expensive.

Head west my friend. Or hell watch videos of police chases. Plenty of people do high speeds on the roads of America. If you've every had to drive across West Texas you'd pray to be able to do 150 and get the hell out of nowhere fast.

 

[yh125d]

no road in america supports travel at 150 mph. the reason the autobahn does is because it's really fucking expensive.

And ford rangers with 5000lbs hanging off the back, and 1983 dodge rams with about 85hp aren't allowed

 

[mooncancook]

I have no use for a powerful sports car, but I still want one, and will buy one when I can afford one

 

[Jzero]

As a pokey econobox driver I can certainly concur. I don't really expect you to drive like a maniac but when there's a car with 200, 300, 400, 500 HP slowing my 117 HP Fit down as we go up a freeway on-ramp I certainly find myself wondering why you spent so much money on so much tech to not even bother using even the slightest little bit of it.

I can also commisserate about whackadoo econobox drivers with outrageous expectations. There are "What should Honda do to improve the Fit" type threads on other forums and the requests are like this: AWD, Sunroof, Leather interior, power seats, +50 HP, 6-speed transmission, heated seats, heated mirrors, power folding mirrors. But they still want all that for $17k or less out the door....*facepalm*

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

The problem is you've got people who know they're buying more than they need but they desperately want to maintain the status symbol of what they have. The only way to solve this problem is putting a minimum fuel economy requirement/raising the CAFE standards.. It's not about that Porsche with 500HP, it's about how that Porsche Compares with that BMW or that Lexus, and how it's not a "crappy economy car". Most people would be happy to have the "best vehicle" but gets 50mpg just as much as the "best vehicle" that gets 12mpg. But in a world where you have 50mpg vehicles and 8mpg vehicles, the 8mpg vehicles are still going to be considered "the best" and until that changes, transitioning to higher MPG vehicles is going to be difficult. People are always for higher efficiency, but if there is a "risk" that it'll lower their status in society, then they want nothing to do with it. People want bragging rights, something that is hard to do when you voluntarily choose a vehicle that is "more inferior" to another vehicle.

One solution to this 0-60 nonsense is to stick with the idea of high fuel economy vehicles but have a rear differential and or in-wheel electric motors for the rear wheels that are paired up with an ultra capacitor. This would provide the ability to burn rubber and get up to 60mph in a short amount of time without having to make a vehicle that wastes fuel since the power needed would be in a short burst. The real need for a true high performance powertrain would be for a racing application where a lot of the time you're driving at WOT oppose to real life situations where we're cruising.

Here's an idea let the market figure out what to sell and buy. Consumers that don't want to spend a lot of money on gas, will naturally buy a car that gets good gas milage. People that don't give a crap about gas prices can buy a car with worse MPG. It's called a choice. Let people have one.

 

[MJinZ]

A fairly insightful piece on Americans and their love for sports cars. I disagree with what he says, but I found it an interesting and amusing article, so I wanted to share with AT.

Link

The M56 is disgusting.

 

[theeedude]

I think most fun happens at the limits of whatever you are driving. If you have too capable of a car, those limits, and associated fun will not be very accessible on the road.
For me the most fun cars are those that have good handling at the limit but not too much grip and power. I can open the taps on them on public roads and toss them into corners without going to jail, and have a lot of fun. I think Mazda is one of few companies that lives by that philosophy.

 

[MJinZ]

I drive my car WOT all the time, up to when I hit the speed limit, which is typically anywhere from 2-6 seconds depending on limit.

I do understand his point but I disagree on the whys. It wasn't just PR flacks that created the need. It was a marketing tool to make money. Just like when GPUs advertise HorseRadish 3D UNGAME engine, or Super D9DD93DXDXX Acceleration, or 1789bit wide electron BUS!!!! The features are there, nobody cares, but makes people buy them.

There are plenty of times when 0-60 is useful. Want to aurally attack that asshole? Take off in first to 60mph in his face. I love doing this to cops that have already pulled someone over.

 

[Tristicus]

There are plenty of times when 0-60 is useful. Want to aurally attack that asshole? Take off in first to 60mph in his face. I love doing this to cops that have already pulled someone over.

Is it just me or does this post scream stupidity?

 

[MJinZ]

Is it just me or does this post scream stupidity?

I don't know, if my words are aurally attacking you without a sound, I guess so.

 

[TehMac]

All I just want to ask after reading this article is: "You mad, bro?"

If by mad, you mean crazy, then yes I am, I just spent a couple Ks fixing up an old mustang so I can have some fun with it.

I am very mad.